Quaint yet stylish

Chimineas usually refer to outdoor fireplaces made of clay and they are rapidly becoming popular with a lot of people. I used to see them in hearth stores but these days they are also sold at retail stores. With chimineas you’ve got to be extra careful as it involves fire and most sellers will give you detailed written instructions on how to handle and care for them.

The construction of the chiminea

I found the chiminea manufacturing process quite interesting. The chiminea has two parts, the base or the pot and the neck. After these pieces are separately made, they dry for a few days after which they are fused into one unit. So you never hold and raise the chiminea from the neck, as there’s the risk of it separating from the neck.

Types of chimineas

From what I’ve seen, chimineas can be of the following types:

Cast iron chiminea
Aluminum chiminea
Clay chiminea

They come with an iron stand and you’ll need a level surface to place them on. Since they are outdoor fireplaces you must take care to see that there’s nothing directly above them that could catch fire! In case you have a wooden deck, you’d need to make sure that you first fix a non-combustible hearth pad.

Chimineas make charming patio fireplaces. When you use them for the first time, they need to be seasoned before you light a really large fire in them. When I got my clay chiminea, I was instructed to build small fires the first few times. After the chiminea is seasoned the firewood must be kept right in the center of the bowl.

Fuel for your chimineas

Fat wood is ideal for chimineas. Other ideal chiminea woods are pinion pine, apple wood, mesquite, and hickory logs. In fact, my friend claims that hickory is great when she uses the chiminea grill. Mesquite also lends an aromatic flavor to whatever you barbeque. But mesquite tends to get pretty hot – so you’ve got to be careful about how many pieces you use. Whatever you do, don’t use damp wood as it can turn your chiminea into a real smoker.

Many manufacturers advise you not to use charcoal. Also avoid pellets and pressure treated woods in your chiminea. Chimineas are meant for small fires. So you can’t use them as your primary heat source.

Looking after your chiminea

When I bought my clay chiminea I was advised to weatherproof it to seal the pores and possible cracks. Also, when not using it I cover it with an old grill cover. Later I found out that you can get storm covers and they don’t cost much.

Where I live, it gets really freezing in the winter – and since am not likely spend a lot of time outdoors, I just store the chiminea in the garage so that I don’t find my chiminea all cracked up because of the cold and moisture. Also it is better to remove the stand and store the chiminea on some kind of pallet for air circulation. In any case, chimineas are meant for small fires and you can’t use them as your primary heat source. So come winter, and we’re back to the indoor hearth and an electric fireplace.

When back to using the chiminea, its better to keep a fire extinguisher at hand. Also, don’t touch the chiminea when its being used or you can scorch your hands. And never try to douse it with water. You need to be especially careful not to let kids and pets get near a chiminea. It’s the same with firepits. At least the chiminea can contain its fire, but with a firepit, you just fill it with wood and let it blaze.

Chimineas

Quaint yet stylish

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